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Dubuque Main Street (of Dubuque, Iowa) features an excerpt from the Muppets (2011) post in its December 2011 e-newsletter (click to read). I’ve always loved Iowa (partially because of Field of Dreams, but also because of the time I spent in Iowa while living in Nebraska), so I’m psyched to have PiP featured in this newsletter.

Show some love and check out the newsletter to learn about Dubuque’s holiday festivities, local shopping and holiday decorations. Visit the website to learn a bit about Dubuque, too.  Here’s a snippet about the Main Street movement in Dubuque to get you started:

In the 1960s and ’70s Dubuque, like many cities across the country, experienced a polarization of its retail trade from downtown to new development on its west side. This shift led to a dramatic demise of downtown with first floor vacancy levels reaching 55% and a loss of anchor department stores.

Realizing that property owners, business owners and the City needed to work together; a coordinating committee was formed in 1984. Community leaders agreed the Main Street program would act as a timely catalyst for economic development and downtown revitalization for Dubuque

In 1985, Dubuque was chosen by the National Trust’s Demonstration Program to be one of seven pilot cities for the Urban Main Street program. Following the program step by step, Dubuque Main Street has provided structure and unity to a downtown composed of many separate parts. After 26 years of success, downtown Dubuque, the longest standing urban program, has seen a dramatic renaissance, leading the state of Iowa in Main Street investment.

I haven’t been to Dubuque in about 5.5 years and my stay was brief; thus, my knowledge is limited. After doing some browsing about the city, it seems to be a midwestern gem filled with great architecture, cultural events, tourist attractions and recreational activities, all set on the Mississippi River in this hilly eastern Iowa city. Dubuque has won awards from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is ranked high for economic growth and employment opportunities. Check out this BBC video, “How A Midwestern Town Reinvented Itself.”

Neat! I think I’ll add it on my list of places to visit. Thanks Dubuque Main Street  for reintroducing me to the city.

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Summer Newsletter Update

Regretfully, I think I have to announce that there will not be a summer newsletter this year, due to lack of actual contributions. Generally, we have at least 12 articles, but this time there were only about 2. It seems like an extremely busy summer for everyone, which I completely understand. If there is interest, the summer issue can be pushed to the fall season, but otherwise the next issue will be winter. If you prefer a guest blog post, please let me know.

In the meantime, I will be spending time giving the website a well deserved, overdue spruce. Suggestions are welcome.

Newsletter Contributions: Second Call

first call:

This issue’s theme is Preservation Now. What is most important to you, the preservationist, right now? What are you studying? What are your work projects? What are related current events and trends that we should be considering in the preservation field?

Second call:

Reminder to all: start thinking about contributions for the next issue of the Preservation in Pink newsletter! Send in your articles, comments, photographs, drawings, suggestions by the end of June. If you have an idea you want to run by me, please do. If you haven’t contributed before but are interested in it, you are encouraged to contribute! Tell your friends, colleagues, etc.

Thank you!

July 2010 Call for Articles

The next issue of the Preservation in Pink newsletter will be out in July 2010. This issue’s theme is Preservation Now. What is most important to you, the preservationist, right now? What are you studying? What are your work projects? What are related current events and trends that we should be considering in the preservation field?

Each issue always features writers discussing such ideas, but now is the time for everyone to consider what we are doing and where we are going.

How do you express yourself? Articles, cartoons, letters, photographs, whatever you have – share it!

Deadline: end of June 2010

Caring for and Recording Historic Buildings

Preservation in Pink January 2010

Want to read about bears, historic houses, and responsibilities? Of course. Read Melissa Celii’s article, “Teaching the Care of Historic Homes In Order to Maintain Value & Integrity” for her thoughtful discussion and possible solutions for those who are unable to afford the care of their historic houses. The article is filled with her usual wit and humor, and a lovely anecdote about bears. See pages 6-7.

What about houses in Scotland? Are you thinking of castles? In his article, “Architectural Audit of Aberdeen,” Jonathan Scott explains the conservation areas of place beyond castles, the towns and villages of Scotland and the project, the architectural audit, that is recording them. It’s similar but different to the United States preservation practices. Jonathan gives readers a good, short lesson in international preservation. See pages 8-9.

Preservation of Heirloom Seeds

Preservation in Pink January 2010

Taking historic preservation to another level, Jennifer Parsons writes about the preservation efforts for heirloom seeds. She discusses the importance of agricultural and seed diversity to our historic landscapes. Consider a historic house with a proper historic,heirloom seed garden.

Read Jennifer’s article, “Think Small in Your Preservation Efforts: Plant a Seed!” on pages 18-19.

Take a Preservation Vacation

Preservation in Pink January 2010

Going somewhere or do you just want to go somewhere? A handful of articles in the latest PiP Newsletter mention great places to visit.

Visit Hildene in Manchester, Vermont with Meghan Bezio (page 12)

Visit Oklahoma City with Maria Gissendanner (page 4)

Travel to Maine with Andrew Deci (page 5)

or take an amazing preservation service trip with Jamie Donahoe and Adventures in Preservation (page 14)

Have fun!

The Importance of Preservation Education

Preservation in Pink January 2010

Heritage education as a concept has many definitions and is used to refer in a generalized way to integrating historic preservation aspects into lesson plans or activities. Heritage education is slowly finding its way into classrooms and museums all over the country. The built environment is one of the most accessible and familiar resources to students of all ages, and by formally educating students to its worth and societal contribution they will be more apt to protect and venerate historic elements.

To read more of “Foundations in Education: The Importance of Heritage Education” by Kerry Vautrot turn to pages 10-11 in the January 2010 issue. See also her recommended list of Historic Preservation books for kids

Cartoons & A Research Mystery

Preservation in Pink January 2010

How about beginning your reading with a story about historical research and a job that shows just how compelling historic preservation can be. Read “Discovering Dinah Mason White in Windsor, Vermont” by Heather Cox:

Dinah Mason White was thirty-two years old when she was sold as a slave to Judge Stephen Jacob of Windsor, Vermont in 1783 by Jotham White of Charleston, New Hampshire. She remained in the Jacob household—despite Vermont‘s anti- slavery Constitution—until 1800, when she was so sick, blind, and infirm that the judge allegedly threw her out of his house. With nowhere else to go and no other resources at her disposal, Dinah became a ward of the town…The story of Dinah and her troubles do not end there, unfortunately.

To continue reading, go to page 3 of the newsletter (link above).

Need something fun for a Monday? How about a preservation comic strip! Read The Amazing Adventures of Pip the Flamingo (page 19).

Latest PiP Newsletter – Hot Off the Press!

Presenting the long-awaited January 2010 edition of the Preservation in Pink newsletter!  Find the issue below, on the newsletter page, or through your email.  Click here to download and read: PreservationinPink_Jan2010. (It will open – a pdf – just give it a minute or email preservationinpink@gmail.com for your own copy.)

Thank you to all contributors. Readers, please share this newsletter with anyone you know who may enjoy it. Spread the preservation love. Once it’s open in your browser, you can feel free to save a copy to your computer.

Can’t read all 20 pages at once or don’t know where to start? Each blog post this week will feature a snippet from one or two articles with a link to the newsletter.

*Viewing tip: if you open it in Adobe Reader, choose  “View” — “Page Display” — “Two-up Continuous” for the best visual effect.

Enjoy! Please share thoughts, comments, and suggestions.

Creative Commons License: (click on the following for explanation) “Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States”